"Bicycle Love" Reflection

The theme of "Bicycle Love" is one of growth and self-exploration through venturing out of your comfort zone. At the beginning of her story, Goodspeed feels lost with no plans for her future. To combat that, she bikes through France relying only on herself. By the end, she takes what she learned on her pilgrimage and makes something of her life. I liked when Goodspeed says her bike started as the Bad Boy, but it was “rechristened the Bad Girl”. This stuck out to me because it shows how she grew closer to the bike and how they began to understand each other and work together as the trip went on. I also liked the ending when she describes the connection she feels to Green Knees. The tender language she uses shows the lasting effect the trip had on her and how it changed her view on life.